Psychology Topics to Study for the Miller Analogies Test (MAT)

Psychology is another minor category that can appear on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Don’t worry — you’re not expected to open up your own therapy practice in order to pass the MAT, but you should familiarize yourself with some common psychological terms and the people who have made major contributions to the field. The following lists are a selection of important psychology figures and terms.

Psychology terms that appear on the MAT test

Brush up on your knowledge of psychology by studying these terms and their definitions.

Acute stress reaction: Shock; response to a traumatizing event

Alcoholism: Addiction to alcoholic beverages

Alzheimer’s disease: Form of dementia; loss of memory

Anorexia nervosa: Eating disorder in which a person does not eat much and believes, falsely, that he is overweight

Archetype: A universally understood model of a personality or behavior

Attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Behavioral disorder in which the person is inattentive and hyperactive

Behaviorism: Belief that all actions of an organism are influenced by its environment

Bulimia: Eating disorder in which the person binges and purges

Classical conditioning (AKA Pavlovian conditioning or respondent conditioning): Learning method in which a first stimulus signals a second stimulus

Ego: According to Freud, the part of the mind that seeks to meet the needs of the id in reality

Id: According to Freud, the part of the mind that contains basic instincts

Instinct: Innate inclination toward a behavior

IQ (Intelligence Quotient): A score on a standardized test designed to measure intelligence; 100 is average

Operant Conditioning (AKA instrumental conditioning): Learning method in which the consequences of behavior determine whether that behavior will be repeated

Psychiatrist: Doctor who treats mental illnesses and can prescribe medicine

Psychoanalysis: Therapy in which patient verbalizes thoughts and then confronts defense mechanisms

Psychologist: A trained professional who helps others achieve better well-being and reduce dysfunction

Super-ego: According to Freud, the part of the mind that is our conscience; formed by influences from figures of authority

Important figures in the field of psychology

The following lists important people in the field of psychology you should become familiar with before taking the MAT.

Adler, Alfred: Austrian doctor who studied the inferiority complex

Binet, Alfred: French psychologist who invented the first IQ test with Théodore Simon

Ekman, Paul: American psychologist who studied facial expression and emotion

Erikson, Erik: American psychologist who theorized on human development

Freud, Sigmund: Austrian founder of psychoanalysis who studied dreams

Gibson, James: American psychologist who worked in the field of visual perception